ABOUT THE LAST GAME: The Rattlers dropped a 5-3 decision to the Cedar Rapids Kernels Saturday at Fox Cities Stadium. Wisconsin grabbed a 2-0 lead with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth, but the Kernels took a 3-2 lead with three runs in the top of the fifth. Brok Butcher got his first professional win with 3-1/3 innings of relief work for Cedar Rapids. The win gave Cedar Rapids a three-game sweep of the Rattlers.
IN THE CLUTCH: In the series, Cedar Rapids was 10-33 (.303) with runners in scoring position. The Timber Rattlers were 5-for-31 (.161) with runners in scoring position.
TRIPLE (TIMES TWO): The Rattlers got a pair of triples in a game for the first time this season on Saturday. Eddy Hernandez tripled in his second straight game in the fourth inning. Michael Saunders tripled for the first time this season to start the Rattler sixth.
TO ERR: Wisconsin committed three errors on Saturday to run their season total to nineteen. Only the Beloit Snappers (with 21) have more fielding miscues than the Rattlers. Wisconsin is tied with the Swing of the Quad Cities for the second most errors in the Midwest League.
GOOD STREAK: Hernandez extended his hitting streak to eight games with his triple in the fourth inning yesterday. Hernandez is 8-for-30 (.267) during the streak.
BAD STREAK: Wisconsin has lost four straight home games dating back to the loss to Peoria on April 9.
THE LAST TIME: Last season, the Swing swept a four game series from the Timber Rattlers at Fox Cities Stadium from June 23-26. That was the last time the Rattlers were swept in a series at home. The sweep at the hands of Quad Cities was also the only time the Rattlers were swept by an opponent last season.
THE LONGEST: The longest losing streak for the Rattlers in 2005 was five games. That team lost five straight games two times last season.
ABOUT THE OPPONENTS: The Southwest Michigan Devil Rays are the Midwest League affiliate of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. The D-Rays made the Midwest League playoffs in 2005, but were swept by South Bend in the first round. The Devil Rays are managed by first year skipper Skeeter Barnes. Barnes was the hitting coach for the Devil Rays in 2005. Southwest Michigan is 4-6 heading into the series with the Rattlers. In their most recent series, they went 1-2 at West Michigan.
VS. DEVIL RAYS IN ’05: Southwest Michigan went 5-3 against the Rattlers last season. The Devil Rays went 3-1 against the Rattlers at C.O. Brown Stadium and split a four game series with the Rattlers at Fox Cities Stadium.
PROSPECTING: BASEBALL AMERICA places three members of the current Southwest Michigan roster on their Top 30 list of Tampa Bay Prospects. Pitcher Wade Davis (#6) and Jacob McGee (#16) are joined by outfielder John Matulia (#28). There are seven members of the Devil Rays’ 2005 draft class on the Southwest Michigan roster. They are: Greg Reinhard (6th round), Mike Wlodarczyk (7th), Matulia (10th), Neil Walton (16th), Ryan Bethel (32nd), Matt Devins (34th), and Garrett Groce (41st).
NATIVE SON: Reinhard is a native of Marinette, Wisconsin and pitched for the NCAA Division III Champion Wisconsin-Whitewater Warhawks before being drafted by Tampa Bay. He was named the NCAA Division III Pitcher of the Year for 2005 after going 11-0 with a 1.43 ERA heading into the D-III Title Game. Reinhard won the Championship Game at Fox Cities Stadium to go a perfect 12-0 in his final season at UW-Whitewater.
OPPOSING STARTING PITCHER: Mike Wlodarczyk pitched for Boston College before signing with Tampa. He went 10-2 with a 3.07 ERA for the Eagles and led the Big East in wins. Wlodarczyk split time between Princeton (Appalachian) and Hudson Valley (New York-Penn) in his first pro season. He went a combined 3-6 with an ERA of 2.33 last season. In his last start, Wlodarczyk got a no decision against Fort Wayne. He went 4-1/3 innings and allowed two runs (one earned) on two hits with four walks and six strikeouts.
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